STEPPING IT UP: Case's Carpenter, Newman have delivered for the Cards

In sports, it's called stepping up. Doing the job and doing it well, when the need arises. Maddie Carpenter and Julean Newman of the Case High School softball team are notable stepper-uppers. Their emergence as shortstop and third baseman, respectively, have helped land the Cardinals in the Division 2 South semifinals where they face Bishop Stang on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Taunton High School.

In sports, it’s called stepping up. Doing the job and doing it well, when the need arises.

Maddie Carpenter and Julean Newman of the Case High School softball team are notable stepper-uppers. Their emergence as shortstop and third baseman, respectively, have helped land the Cardinals in the Division 2 South semifinals where they face Bishop Stang on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Taunton High School.

Already a young and largely inexperienced varsity team heading into the 2014 season, the Cardinals lost the left side of their infield. Returning shortstop Hailey Sousa tore her right ACL and meniscus during basketball season, underwent surgery in March, and may not even be ready to play field hockey next fall.

Third baseman and senior captain Kelsey Pacheco, the No. 3 batter and one of the few veterans of last year’s Division 3 South champions, broke her nose in physical education class last fall and subsequently underwent two surgeries. The second of those operations, on April 1, prevented her from even practicing with the team until this past Wednesday.

A junior varsity player and a backup varsity pitcher a year ago, Carpenter has done the job at shortstop while batting a rugged .462 with four home runs and .767 slugging average. Newman, a catcher by trade, has been solid at third and is hitting .432.

Case coach Donald DiBiasio had the advantage of knowing both girls from the Swansea Softball League’s recreation and travel team programs. He knew their skills, their attitudes. He also knew they both had much to learn.

“Maddie has very good hands,” he said. “He arm is accurate. She gets a good jump on the ball. She’s an athlete.”

While Carpenter had played a little shortstop in her decade or so of softball, she had not done so under DiBiasio’s high school system. “We all do things differently,” DiBiasio said. “So there were going to be a little bit of growing pains.”

“I was supposed to be at second (base),” Carpenter said. “But things just worked out that way. I was really nervous, because I never really played (shortstop) before. It was new.”

Support came not only from the coaching staff but from the teammate, Sousa, who lost her position and season to the injury. “She’s really supportive,” Carpenter said. “Sure she did want to play, but she’s helpful.”

Newman is the one Cardinal who does not get to see her teammates in the classrooms or hallways of Case High School. She is home schooled, and for the previous two years played for Masters Regional Academy in Smithfield, R.I. This spring she has reunited with many of her buddies from the Swansea Softball League. “I was definitely excited to come back and play for the Swansea team,” she said.

Page 2 of 2 - Newman’s main position was catcher, and DiBiasio originally had her labeled as Jenna Santerre’s backup behind the plate. But when Pacheco suddenly fell out of the mix, Newman had a suggestion. “She said, ‘I want to take a shot at third base,’” DiBiasio said. “She’s done fabulous over there. She’s been a pleasant surprise.”

While their names have not appeared on DiBiasio’s lineup cards, Pacheco and Sousa have fallen off the Case softball radar screen. Both are regulars at games and at practices, and they’re not there to mope or to dwell on what may have been. Instead they are sharing the joy of team success (17-5 record). “I love the sport. Love being at practice, helping the coaches out,” Sousa said.

“I take my role more as being a coach,” Pacheco said. “I am a leader to these girls. I love these girls and I want to be a captain.”

And the captain, though perhaps rusty, is back and ready to contribute on the field against Stang if and when DiBiasio calls her number.

“Kelsey has been so helpful,” Newman said. “She encourages everyone. If you make an error, she’s there to pat you on the back. If you strike out, she encourages you. She’s such a great sport.”